Former Niantic fire Chief Stephen M. Wargo pleaded not guilty to first-degree larceny when he was arraigned Friday in New London Superior Court on a charge that he collected money for shifts he did not work.

Wargo, 47, of 59 East Pattagansett Road has retained attorney Walter D. Hussey and is due back in court on April 18, according to his court file.

The allegations came to light in December after discrepancies of timecards and submitted payroll requests had been discovered by volunteer members of the department. Niantic uses a mix of paid staff and volunteers.

Wargo, a volunteer chief and a paid part-time firefighter at the Niantic department, submitted his resignation as chief for what he called "personal reasons."

Following a nearly three-month investigation, East Lyme police obtained a warrant for Wargo's arrest.

According to the arrest warrant, Wargo stole $2,397.53 in varying increments over a 17-month period beginning in Jan. 2017. He did so by allegedly submitting time sheets claiming hours he had not actually worked, such as shifts he originally was supposed to work but for which he had found substitutes, being paid excess hours documented for a scheduled shift, and shifts for which he was never scheduled.

He also is a lieutenant in the New London Fire Department and is suspended with pay pending the outcome of the criminal case.